Why pass a recycling and composting law?
After decades of voluntary, convenient programs and financial incentives, 36 percent of what San Francisco sends to landfill is compostable (mostly food scraps) and 31 percent is recyclable (mostly paper). San Francisco has the goal of achieving 75 percent diversion from landfill by 2010 and zero waste by 2020. If San Francisco collected everything that could be recycled or composted, we’d be diverting 90 percent of our waste stream. It is highly unlikely that San Francisco will achieve its diversion or climate action goals without mandatory recycling and composting for everyone.
